After nearly a century of drought, Runcorn is back on the good-beer map. The borough's very own micro-brewery is flourishing, and produces some of the finest ale this reporter has tasted in a long while - and that's saying something!

Runcorn's micro-brewery - Northern Brewing - began production at the end of last year.

Founder Colin Stubbs, 52, bought all the brewing kit, including pipes, barrels and raw materials, from a company in Yorkshire and then he and some friends built the brewery from scratch.

The unit in Runcorn's Docks area was a shell when Colin happened upon it, but he knew it was the place where he wanted to set up a micro-brewery - the town's first in almost 100 years.

Colin says: 'I knew I'd found the perfect site - it totally fitted the bill.'

Runcorn's prime location, not to mention the reasonable rents, were significant factors in Colin's choice to situate the micro-brewery in the town.

But Runcorn also has another major draw for the brewer - our water. According to Colin the water, sourced from Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales, is essential to the successful production of his excellent ale.

The Northern Brewing venture began in December last year with the production of one brew a week, filling five barrels - equivalent to 1,500 pints.

However, the demand generated by the success of the first few batches soon meant an increase in production. By early February, Colin realised the business was becoming too much for one man, so he welcomed his friend Mike Hill on board.

Production currently stands at 10 barrels (3,000 pints) a week but Colin and Mike intend to expand further, without compromising the end product.

Colin explains: 'We don't want to risk this high quality so we are going slowly. However, we like to think that by next year we will have increased production to 15 barrels a week.' The Northern Brewery ethos is simple: the only way to survive is to produce a top-quality product.

This means rejecting chemicals and additives that would make the beer cheaper, as Colin explains: 'We will not cut corners to save money at the risk of jeopardising quality and consistency.' Colin beams with delight when I ask him what is so special about the beer he produces.

'It's just beautiful,' he says. 'Our beers are really easy to drink, and are made very carefully with top-quality British products. They are completely natural and not full of nasty additives.'